2023. In December 2008, the Rail Baltic Estonia Youth Community held its first meeting, with the aim of bringing together inspiring young people who support the international rail project and are keen to contribute to creating a fast, comfortable, environmentally sustainable and safe transport link with Europe.
All open-minded and enterprising young people are welcome to join our youth community in the Facebook group“RB YOUTH“.
We organise a variety of exciting meetings each year, focusing on networking, learning about a specific area or topic, and planning the next steps together.
As of today, RB Youth Community has:
visited the RBE office and got to know Rail Baltica’s work, promoters and activities;
took part in the TalTech“Rail Master” competition for building railway packages;
First meeting of RB Youth Community in December 2023. Photo: Kelly Koort
Bringing like-minded people together is essential for spreading environmental awareness among young people and for interesting rail-related activities to take place. This is why the Rail Baltica Youth Community was created.
If you know someone in your circle of friends who could be a part of the RB youth community, let them know!
Rail Baltica International Mobility Conference 30.05.2024. From left: Hannes Hermaküla, Aaron Torm Peebo and Kristian Pärt. Photo by Vallo Kruuser.
For Rail Baltic Estonia, the involvement of young people in the railway project is important in many ways:
Young people are the shapers of the future, but also the future users of Rail Baltica;
The involvement of young people helps to ensure that the project also meets the needs and expectations of future generations;
Young people bring innovative ideas and creative approaches to the project;
Involving young people in the project ensures wider societal support and increases cohesion with communities;
Young people understand the impact of climate change and want to be part of the solutions to environmental problems to ensure a more sustainable future;
Young people are interested in waste management and circular economy and bring innovative solutions to the table;
Young people’s love for travel and the environment also increases support for the use of trains and rail transport!
RBE environmental expert Tanika Ojasild (left) presenting the eco-friendly rail project at Europe Day 2023. Photo: Kelly Koort.
Young Rail Baltica enthusiasts at the Europe Day 2022. Photo by Kelly Koort
DiscoverEU stipendium – what, how and to whom?
2018.
aastal kutsuti Erasmus+ programmis ellu äge initsiatiiv nimega DiscoverEU, mis annab 18-aastastele noortele võimaluse rongiga reisides Euroopat avastada.
To win a free passport, you have to take part in a competition that takes place twice a year, in spring and autumn, via the European Youth Portal. Each country’s young people are allocated a limited number of train passes, which can be used to travel in around 30 European countries participating in the programme. All young people who are 18 years old at the time of application, have the nationality of a European Union Member State and are planning to travel for one day to one month are eligible. You can go on your dream trip alone or with up to four friends.
In addition to a passport, young people will also receive a discount card to help them pay for food, accommodation, local transport, culture, sports and other expenses.
A free travel pass allows you to travel by train across Europe, learn about cultural heritage, experience new things, practise languages and meet different people. You can go on the trip of your dreams on your own or take up to four friends with you.
From 2022, Rail Baltic Estonia has also supported the DiscoverEU program, giving five young people a 500-euro travel scholarship every summer after the second round of applications to save on accommodation, food and other travel expenses.
NB: If you’ve received the positive news about the DiscoverEU travel pass win, keep an eye on your inbox and Rail Baltic Estonia social media accounts in May so you can also apply for the RBE travel grant!
Rail Baltic Estonia DiscoverEU programme fellows for 2022-2024. Photos: private collection.
In November 2024, Rail Baltic Estonia and Millenzials, named after Artjom Savitski and Kris Lüüs (stage name Krispoiss), conducted a youth campaign “The Future is on the Train”, which aimed to create a vision of the future Rail Baltica train. The aim of the campaign was to inspire young people to think about the future of transport and infrastructure, to offer them the opportunity to express their creativity and technological skills, and to present Rail Baltica as a forward-looking, comfortable, safe and innovative infrastructure project.
It was allowed to visualise both the interior and exterior of the train, to use different design programs and, among other things, the assistance of artificial intelligence. The work had to be submitted in photo format with a short description of the design solution chosen and how the train meets the needs of future users and supports the Rail Baltica identity.
A total of 41 entries were received, of which 36 were shortlisted according to the rules. The entries were judged in three categories, and the jury was joined by the public.
The campaign was sponsored by Wasa Resort, who gave away 2 spa packages for two as a prize for the RBE and the audience favourite. Also, all winners will be able to shop for €150 at the largest premium shoe and street style shop in Northern Europe. Ballzy.
